"Quiet Beauty" Exhibit by Deborah Hughes Opens Set to Open at Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Arts Council of Tuscaloosa is pleased to present Being There: A Decade of Plein Aire Painting by Deborah Hughes, on view at the Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center from August 7 through August 31. This highly anticipated exhibition features a collection of plein air paintings created over the past ten years, grouped into ten thematic categories of Lakes, Coasts, Trees, Fall, Gardens, and more offering a vivid look into Hughes' deep connection with nature and her dedication to the practice of painting on location.

The show opens on Thursday, June 6 at 5 p.m. as part of Tuscaloosa's First Friday Art Walk.

Deborah Hughes' relationship with the Arts Council spans decades, dating back to her days as an art student at the University of Alabama. Her artistic path has included roles as a children's book illustrator, artist-in-residence, and professor at the University of West Alabama. She also served for 22 years as a designer and art director at UA, producing award-winning work across print and digital platforms. Throughout it all, painting remained a constant, and she frequently exhibited in Tuscaloosa's juried and solo shows, including Stolen Hours, Wanderings, and On the Rocks--the latter of which marked her shift toward landscape as a primary subject.

This new exhibit highlights the evolution of Hughes' plein air practice, an adventurous and athletic discipline that often requires hauling gear across challenging terrain in changing light and weather. "Painting on location is foremost about being there," she says. "Direct observation and a visual dialogue with the environment make for a great way to have serious fun."

Raised in Meridian, Mississippi, Hughes traces her artistic roots to Saturday art classes with abstract expressionist Eloise McLellan. She earned her BFA at the University of Alabama and her MFA from Florida State University, later illustrating children's educational materials and working in arts education, curation, and graphic design.

After retiring from UA in 2002, Hughes embraced plein air painting in earnest, particularly during time spent in California, where she co-founded SCAPE (Southern California Artists Painting the Environment) and participated in numerous juried exhibitions. She has since painted across the U.S. and internationally, including in Canada, Italy, Greece, Oregon, and the Maine coastline.

Hughes is also the founder of Wellness Walls for Art, a rotating exhibition series at the UA Medical Center that has showcased over 40 themed shows, bringing art to new audiences in healing spaces.

Gallery hours are weekdays 9 a.m.- noon and 1-4 p.m. For more information about all gallery events taking place on First Friday and the locations, visit www.firstfridaytuscaloosa.com.

The Dinah Washington Cultural Arts Center is located at 620 Greensboro Avenue in downtown Tuscaloosa. For more information about The Arts Council or Bama Theatre, patrons should follow and like "The Arts Council - Bama Theatre - Cultural Arts Center" on Facebook and Instagram @tuscaloosaartscouncil. Call 758-5195 or visit tuscarts.org for further information.